puffer
puh fer
- n delicacy that is highly dangerous because of a potent nerve poison in ovaries and liver
- 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
- Every year a number of Japanese suffer Botanist Davis tetrodotoxin poisoning as a result of eating incorrectly prepared puffer fish, the great delicacy fugu.
- The FDA, for example, strictly limits imports of puffer fish, which can contain a deadly toxin if processed improperly.
- Now a puffer is a boat that has to be seen to be adequately disbelieved.