puffer

puff +‎ -er

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpʌfɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpʌfə/

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• Rhymes: -ʌfə(ɹ)

puffer (plural puffers)

1. Someone or something that puffs.
2. Any of several poisonous fish, of the family Tetraodontidae, which have the ability to inflate their bodies when in danger.
3. A manually-operated inhaler.
4. (dated, childish) A train; a locomotive, usually one that is steam-powered.
5. A Clyde puffer, a kind of small ship.
6. (slang) A car left idling to warm up, emitting steam from the rear.
7. (fashion) An insulated puffy jacket, such as a down jacket.
8. (dated) A person who gives exaggerated praise to a product, literary work, etc.
9. (dated, slang) One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up the price; a by-bidder.
   • 1834, The Law Library:

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

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

• (fish): globefish, pufferfish

• Clyde puffer
• peter puffer
• pink puffer
• Randall's puffer

• 'puffer (slang), The Official Dictionary of Unofficial English: A Crunk Omnibus, by Grant Barrett, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2006, p. 273.

puffer c (singular definite pufferen, plural indefinite puffere)

1. (chemistry) buffer

• buffer