The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sward \Sward\, n. [AS. sweard skin, covering; akin to OFries.
   swarge, D. zwoord, G. schwarte, Icel. sv["o]r?r skin, sward
   of the earth.]
   1. Skin; covering. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The grassy surface of land; that part of the soil which is
      filled with the roots of grass; turf.
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            The sward was trim as any garden lawn. --Tennyson.
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   Sward pork, bacon in large fitches. [Prov. Eng.]
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sward \Sward\, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Swarded; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Swarding.]
   To produce sward upon; to cover, or be covered, with sward.
   --Mortimer.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

sward
    n 1: surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass
         roots [syn: turf, sod, sward, greensward]