An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schwarte
Schwarte, t., ‘thick, hard skin; rind, bark, from MidHG. swarte, swart, f., ‘hairy scalp, hairy or feathered skin’ (OHG. *swarta, f., is by chance not recorded). A common Teut. word; comp. Du. zwoord, ‘bacon rind,’ OFris. swarde, ‘scalp,’ AS. sweard, MidE. sward, ‘skin,’ OIc. svǫrðr, ’scalp, skin, whale-hide’; Goth. *swardus, f., ‘scalp.’ Origin obscure. Note the evolution in meaning of E. sward, Scand. jarðan-svǫrðr, gras-svǫrðr, Dan. jord-, grönswœrd.