puffer
UK[ˈpʌfə]US[ˈpʌfər]
n
a person or thing that puffs, especially a device for puffing powder onto a surface.
n
any of various fishes that can inflate their bodies with water or air as a defense mechanism.
Morpheme Breakdown
puff
er
puff
to blow in short gusts
er
a person or thing that performs an action
Etymology
the word 'puffer' is a transparent english formation, combining the verb 'puff' with the agentive suffix '-er'. the core verb 'puff' is of onomatopoeic origin, imitating the sound of a short, explosive breath or emission of air. this imitative root gave rise to a family of words related to blowing, swelling, and short bursts. by adding the productive suffix '-er', the word simply denotes 'one who or that which puffs'. this straightforward morphological process has generated terms for diverse agents, from a person smoking a pipe to a mechanical device, and most notably, for fish that inflate themselves with water or air, mimicking the act of puffing up.
Analysis
Structure: puff + er
puff (middle english, from old english pyffan, of imitative origin, meaning 'to blow in short gusts'); er (old english agentive suffix, meaning 'a person or thing that performs an action').
Examples
the painter used a puffer to apply a fine layer of chalk dust to the sketch.
the puffer fish is a fascinating but potentially poisonous creature.
he was known as a great puffer of cigars, often surrounded by a cloud of smoke.