buttercup

English

Etymology

From butter +‎ cup. Both sense 1 and 2 are from the flowers' association with butter, from their yellow colour. Compare butterflower for a similar derivation; outside of English, compare Dutch boterbloem, German Butterblume.[1]

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbʌt.ə.kʌp/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈbʌt.ɚ.kʌp/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

buttercup (plural buttercups)

  2. Any of many herbs, of the genus Ranunculus, having yellow flowers; the crowfoot.
  4. Any flower of the genus Narcissus; a daffodil.
  5. Ellipsis of buttercup squash.
  6. Affectionate or ironic term of address.
    • 1957, “All Shook Up”, Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley (lyrics), performed by Elvis Presley:
      When she touched my hand, what a chill I got
      Her lips are like a volcano that's hot
      I'm proud to say that she's my buttercup.
      I'm in love - I'm all shook up.
    • 1987, Joyce Brandon, Lady and the Lawman, page 346:
      Listen, buttercup, you're damned good in bed. They don't come any better, but I'm really not interested in playing second fiddle to your camera or your young lovers.

Synonyms

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Translations

References

  1. ^ “buttercup, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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