Sward

Quick meaning: Sward is a noun meaning (uncountable) Earth which grass has grown into the upper layer of; greensward, sod, turf; (countable) a portion of such earth.

Meaning

(uncountable) Earth which grass has grown into the upper layer of; greensward, sod, turf; (countable) a portion of such earth.

More Meanings

1. (countable) An expanse of land covered in grass; a lawn or meadow.
2. (countable, obsolete) The upper layer of the ground, especially when vegetation is growing on it.
3. (countable, obsolete except British, dialectal) The rind of bacon or pork; also, the outer covering or skin of something.
4. (transitive) To cover (ground, etc.) with sward.
5. (intransitive) Of ground, etc.: to be covered with sward; to develop a covering of sward.
6. (Philippines) A homosexual man.

Example Sentences

[F]or garden it was called, though consisting but of plots of sward, bordered by fruit trees, and white rose trees not yet in blossom, […]

Only where George stood was there left a sward as of yore; the great, level, green lawn that served for both the Major's house and his daughter's.

[O]f a sudden the trees began to thin and the sward to spread out onto a broad, green lawn, where five cows lay in the sunshine and droves of black swine wandered unchecked.

His eyes he op'nd, and beheld a field, / Part arable and tilth, whereon were Sheaves / New reapt, the other part ſheep-walks and foulds; / Ith' midſt an Altar as the Land-mark ſtood / Ruſtic, of graſſie ſord; […]

Word Forms

• swards
• swarth
• swart
• swarding
• swarded

Synonyms for sward

Depending on context, synonyms include field, sod, turf, greensward.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include turf, sod, greensward, plushy, swarth, sord.

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