Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.

   2. The grassy surface of land; that part of the soil which is
      filled with the roots of grass; turf.

            The sward was trim as any garden lawn. --Tennyson.

   {Sward pork}, bacon in large fitches. [Prov. Eng.]

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.

Source : WordNet®

sward
     n : surface layer of ground containing a matt of grass and grass
         roots [syn: {turf}, {sod}, {greensward}]