globefish n any of numerous marine fishes whose elongated spiny body can inflate itself with water or air to form a globe; several species contain a potent nerve poison; closely related to spiny puffers Usage(s) The lanterns that shone in the dim dawn of Japanese history were globefishgutted, puffed, dried, and filled with live fireflies. At first, some suspected formalin, a pesticide used in globefish cultivation. When a neighbor recommended globefish as a particular delicacy, he offered some to his cow (who loved eels and herring). Synonym(s) puffer pufferfish blowfish