“Sward” can easily be mistaken for the word “sword,” but the former is a word for a grassy patch of land, and the latter is a blade. “Sward” was originally used in Middle English, from the Old English “sweard” and “swearth,” meaning “skin” or “rind.” These all trace back to the Middle High German “swart,” meaning “skin” or “hide.” This is likely in reference to the usage of the word describing the top layer of soil being covered in grass, like a green, furry hide.