Tetrodotoxin

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]:

  Toxin \Tox"in\, Toxine \Tox"ine\, n. [Gr. toxiko`n. See {Toxic}.
     ]
     A poisonous product formed by an organism, such as a
     pathogenic bacterium, a plant or an animal, usually having a
     high molecular weight, often a protein or a polysaccharide,
     but occasionally a low-molecular weight agent such as
     {tetrodotoxin}.

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

  blowfish \blow"fish\ n.
     1. a fish eaten as a delicacy, especially in Japan. It is
        highly dangerous because of a potent nerve poison
        (tetrodotoxin) in its ovaries and liver. Chefs require
        special training to learn how to remove the poisonous
        parts, and in Japan they must be licensed.
  
     Note: In Japan it is called {fugu}. Deaths due to ingestion
           of the meat of this fish occur almost every year.
  
     Syn: sea squab, puffer, puffer fish.
          [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
  
     2. any of numerous marine fishes of the family
        {Tetraodontidae} whose elongated spiny body can inflate
        itself with water or air to form a globe; several species
        contain {tetrodotoxin}, a potent nerve poison; they are
        closely related to spiny puffers.
  
     Syn: puffer, globefish.
          [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]