Found 1 items, similar to swellfish.
English → English (gcide) Definition: swellfish 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. (Zo["o]l.) (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] Bur fish \Bur" fish`\ (Zo["o]l.) 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]