puffer fish

noun

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

Examples of puffer fish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Souza told us about the early islanders’ sophisticated system of aquaculture and pointed out the eel, barracuda, and — excitement! — puffer fish that live in the ponds today. —Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024

Lin Qi, a brash gaming entrepreneur, was hospitalized in December 2020 for mercury poisoning and a neurotoxin similar to the kind found in puffer fish. —Jordan Riefe, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2024

Last weekend, Dominguez fit right in, dressed as a billowing psychedelic puffer fish that enveloped most of his face. —Patricia Leigh Brown, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2024

The Bartz sculptures, which started with a puffer fish in 2012, were inspired by a trip to Florida. —Staff Report, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

puffer fish

noun

: any of various scaleless fishes chiefly of tropical seas which can puff themselves up with air or water when threatened and most of which are highly poisonous

called also blowfish, puffer

Medical Definition

puffer fish

noun

variants or pufferfish

: 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