One who puffs; one who praises with noisy or extravagant commendation.
2.
One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at suction to bid up the price; a by-bidder.
3.
(Zool.)
(a)
Any plectognath fish which inflates its body, as the species of Tetrodon and Diodon of the family Tetraodontidae; called also blower, puff-fish, swellfish, and globefish. They are highly poisonous due to the presence of glands containing a potent toxin, tetrodotoxin. Nevertheless they are eaten as a delicacy in Japan, being prepared by specially licensed chefs who remove the poison glands.
