sward
pronunciation
How to pronounce sward in British English:
UK [swɔ:d]
How to pronounce sward in American English:
US [swɔrd]
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- Noun:
- surface layer of ground containing a matt of grass and grass roots
Word Origin
- sward (n.)
- "grass-covered ground," c. 1300, from Old English sweard "skin, hide, rind" (of bacon, etc.), from Proto-Germanic *swarthu- (cognates: Old Frisian swarde "skin of the head," Middle Dutch swarde "rind of bacon," Dutch zwoord "rind of bacon," German Schwarte "thick, hard skin, rind," Old Norse svörðr "walrus hide"). Meaning "sod, turf" developed from the notion of the "skin" of the earth (compare Old Norse grassvörðr, Danish grønsvær "greensward").
Example
- 1. Falls slowly like a memory to the sward .
- 2. Long shadows lay on the sward .
- 3. For beauty is a sward that pieces the heart .
- 4. Surfaces for sports areas - determination of sward height of natural turf .
- 5. They flung themselves down on the sward [ turf ] , close to their underground home .