Harsh climates or conditions are very difficult for people, animals, and plants to live.
Get Urban Dictionary Harsh Background. Disagreeable to one of the senses, as: So desperate for food he goes to steal from people without them noticing.
From middle english harsk, harisk(e), hask(e), herris.
As you've probably noticed, the slang synonyms for harsh are listed above. The middle english dictionary derives it from that and middle low german harsch (rough, literally hairy. From middle english harsk, harisk(e), hask(e), herris. Frequently paired with way, as in way harsh.