puffer fish

noun

Definition of puffer fish

1 : any of a family (Tetraodontidae) of chiefly tropical scaleless marine bony fishes which can distend themselves to a globular form and most of which are highly poisonous — called also blowfish, globefish, swellfish; compare fugu

2 : any of various fish of the same order (Tetraodontiformes) as the puffer fish

See puffer fish defined for kids

First Known Use of puffer fish

1869

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

puffer fish

noun

variants: or pufferfish

medical Definition of puffer fish

: any of a family (Tetraodontidae) of chiefly tropical, scaleless, marine fishes that when threatened can distend themselves to a large, roundish form and most of which are highly poisonous — called also blowfish, globefish; see fugu