He goes out into the highway and brandishes a double-handed sword-in order to sweep off the head of a buttercup.
"Prince Fortunatus"
William Black
These, their fond mother, who loved them dearly, called her "orange blossoms"; but when at dinner, Klaas would keep on, dipping his potatoes into the hot butter, while others were all through, his mother would laugh and call him her buttercup.
"Dutch Fairy Tales for Young Folks"
William Elliot Griffis
Appreciation is heightened by contrast; and the buttercup-England's gift to her little children-is pronounced far brighter than the "gaudy melon-flower" which the exiled Englishman has at this moment before him.
"A Handbook to the Works of Browning (6th ed.)"
Mrs. Sutherland Orr