Puffer

//ˈpʌfɚ// noun, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Someone or something that puffs.
  2. 2
    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 wordnet
  3. 3
    Any of several poisonous fish, of the family Tetraodontidae, which have the ability to inflate their bodies when in danger.
  4. 4
    delicacy that is highly dangerous because of a potent nerve poison in ovaries and liver wordnet
  5. 5
    A manually-operated inhaler.
Show 12 more definitions
  1. 6
    A train; a locomotive, usually one that is steam-powered. childish, dated
  2. 7
    A Clyde puffer, a kind of small ship.
  3. 8
    A car left idling to warm up, emitting steam from the rear. slang
  4. 9
    An insulated puffy jacket, such as a down jacket.
  5. 10
    A person who gives exaggerated praise to a product, literary work, etc. dated
  6. 11
    One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up the price; a by-bidder. dated, slang

    "Cicero in his Offices declares his opinion , that a vendor ought not to appoint a puffer to raise the price"

  7. 12
    An alchemist; so named from their constant attendance to the bellows of their furnaces. derogatory
  8. 13
    The common, or harbour, porpoise.
  9. 14
    A kier used in dyeing.
  10. 15
    A soffietta.
  11. 16
    A finite pattern that moves like a spaceship but leaves a trail of debris.

    "This is the next best thing, which is a pseudo-puffer made by converting a stream of spaceships into puffer output using several c/3 spaceships."

  12. 17
    A security device used to detect traces of explosives or drugs on a person, by blowing puffs of air that pick up tiny particles.

Etymology

From puff + -er. The cellular automata definition is a clipping of puffer train.

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