Swellfish

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Puffer \Puff"er\, n.
     1. One who puffs; one who praises with noisy or extravagant
        commendation.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold


        at suction to bid up the price; a by-bidder. --Bouvier.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Zool.)
        (a) Any plectognath fish which inflates its body, as the
            species of {Tetrodon} and {Diodon} of the family
            {Tetraodontidae}; -- called also {blower},
            {puff-fish}, {swellfish}, and {globefish}. They are
            highly poisonous due to the presence of glands
            containing a potent toxin, {tetrodotoxin}.
            Nevertheless they are eaten as a delicacy in Japan,
            being prepared by specially licensed chefs who remove
            the poison glands.
        (b) The common, or harbor, porpoise.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Dyeing) A kier.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Swellfish \Swell"fish`\, n. (Zool.)
     Any plectognath fish that dilates itself, as the bur fish,
     puffer, or diodon.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bur fish \Bur" fish`\ (Zool.)
     A spinose, plectognath fish of the Allantic coast of the
     United States (esp. {Chilo mycterus geometricus}) having the
     power of distending its body with water or air, so as to
     resemble a chestnut bur; -- called also {ball fish}, {balloon
     fish}, and {swellfish}.
     [1913 Webster]