sward
Plural: swards
Noun
- surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots
- Earth which grass has grown into the upper layer of; greensward, sod, turf; (countable) a portion of such earth.
- An expanse of land covered in grass; a lawn or meadow.
- The upper layer of the ground, especially when vegetation is growing on it.
- The rind of bacon or pork; also, the outer covering or skin of something.
- A homosexual man.
Verb
Verb Forms: swarded, swarding, swards
- To cover an area with turf or grass.
- To cover (ground, etc.) with sward.
- Of ground, etc.: to be covered with sward; to develop a covering of sward.
Examples
- The gardener wanted to SWARD the bare patch, much like a player fills an empty Scrabble board.
Origin / Etymology
The noun is derived from Middle English sward (“rind; skin; calloused skin; leather strap; sod, turf”) [and other forms], from Old English sweard, swearð (“rind; skin”), from Proto-Germanic *swarduz (“rind; tough skin; turf”); further etymology unknown.
The verb is derived from the noun.
Synonyms
greensward, sod, turf, field
Scrabble Score: 9
sward: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Wordsward: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
sward: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary