puffer

noun

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

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.

   “For years he'd made relatively light of it, referring to the little inhaler he had to use as his ‘puffer’.”

4. A train; a locomotive, usually one that is steam-powered.
5. A Clyde puffer, a kind of small ship.
6. A car left idling to warm up, emitting steam from the rear.
7. An insulated puffy jacket, such as a down jacket.
8. A person who gives exaggerated praise to a product, literary work, etc.
9. One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up the price; a by-bidder.

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

10. 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. A soffietta.
14. 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.”

    “Might be interesting to see if the debris from this puffer can be suppressed somehow -- assuming somebody hasn't already done that, but I don't see any sign of previous attempts.”

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