Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Harsh

Harsh (harsh) , adjective

[Old English harsk; akin to German harsch, Danish harsk rancid, Swedish harsk; from the same source as English hard. See Hard, a.]

1.
Rough; disagreeable; grating
(a)
disagreeable to the touch.
(b)
disagreeable to the taste.
(c)
disagreeable to the ear.
Harsh sand. — Boyle
Berries harsh and crude. — Milton
Harsh din. — Milton
2.
Unpleasant and repulsive to the sensibilities; austere; crabbed; morose; abusive; abusive; severe; rough.
Clarence is so harsh, so blunt. — Shakespeare
Though harsh the precept, yet the preacher charmed. — Dryden
3.
(Painting, Drawing, etc.) Having violent contrasts of color, or of light and shade; lacking in harmony.