/te troh'deuh tok"sin/ , n. Pharm.
a neurotoxin, C 11 H 17 N 3 O 3 , occurring in a species of puffer fish: ingestion of the toxin is usually rapidly fatal due to heart failure or asphyxiation; used experimentally to block impulse conduction potential in excitable cells.
[ 1910-15; Tetrodo ( n ) genus name of the puffer fish (see TETR-, -ODONT) + TOXIN ]