sward

[swawrd]

noun

1. the grassy surface of land; turf.

2. a stretch of turf; a growth of grass.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with sward or turf.

verb (used without object)

1. to become covered with sward.

sward

/ swɔːd /

noun

1. turf or grass or a stretch of turf or grass

verb

1. to cover or become covered with grass

Other Word Forms

• undersward noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sward¹

before 900; Middle English (noun); Old English sweard skin, rind; cognate with German Schwarte rind, Old Frisian swarde scalp, Middle Dutch swaerde skin

Word History and Origins

Origin of sward¹

Old English sweard skin; related to Old Frisian swarde scalp, Middle High German swart hide

Example Sentences

A boardwalk leads visitors deep into the woods; mown swards direct footsteps up, over and through the Earth Garden; and steppingstone boulders navigate a stream.

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Not long now: The teams are out on the Turf Moor sward going through the last of the pre-match formalities.

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Not long now: The teams are out on the Camp Nou sward and going through the last of the pre-match formalities.

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Not long now: Burnley’s players give their Liverpool counterparts, the Premier League champions, a guard of honour as they march out on to the Anfield sward with You’ll Never Walk Alone playing over the Tannoy.

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And then they were standing on the true path: a swath of green sward running through the grey wood.

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Related Words

• earth 
• grass 
• ground 
• sod 
• soil 
• terrain 
• territory 
• track