fugu

noun
fu·​gu | \ ˈf(y)ü-(ˌ)gü How to pronounce fugu (audio) \

Definition of fugu

: any of various very poisonous puffer fishes (family Tetraodontidae) that contain tetrodotoxin and that are used as food in Japan after the toxin-containing parts are removed

Illustration of fugu

Illustration of fugu

Examples of fugu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Debates have gone back and forth for years in Japanese society over the regulation of fugu. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Climate Change Turning Pufferfish into Mutant Hybrids," 11 Dec. 2018 There are 50 species of pufferfish, also known as fugu. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Climate Change Turning Pufferfish into Mutant Hybrids," 11 Dec. 2018 Tunnel through the swarm and razzle-dazzle, the urgent flashing cries for everything from Asahi to fugu (blowfish) joints, and make your way to the comparatively sedate red-on-yellow façade of Creo-ru. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "Loud, Crowded, Grease-Stained, and Gloriously Drunk: Where the World Eats After Hours," 8 Oct. 2018 In the midst of our jet lag revel, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto happened to saunter in with a delegation from Japan, including a representative of the fugu industry. Mark Rozzo, Town & Country, "Hong Kong Foodie," 1 Nov. 2012 Last year, a warm winter led to smaller and more scarce fugu. Paul Takahashi, Houston Chronicle, "Seafood restaurants squeezed by climate change, growing appetites," 6 Apr. 2018 Nippon sends it out with chives and a spicy daikon mash, which complement its quiet flavor, and cooked fragments of fugu, which don’t. New York Times, "The Restaurant That Became Japan’s Unofficial Ambassador," 3 July 2018 Unlike fugu, Japan’s riskiest delicacy, lionfish is harmless. Ben Lowy, Smithsonian, "The Lionfish Have Invaded, But a Ragtag Army of Divers and Chefs Are Fighting Back," 23 May 2018 Tiger blowfish is supposed to be the most delicious kind of fugu. New York Times, "Japanese Seafood Without the Painful Price Tag, at Wokuni," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fugu.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of fugu

1909, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for fugu

Japanese

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More Definitions for fugu

fugu

noun
fu·​gu | \ ˈf(y)ü-(ˌ)gü How to pronounce fugu (audio) \

Medical Definition of fugu

: any of various very poisonous puffer fish that contain tetrodotoxin and that are used as food in Japan after the toxin-containing organs are removed