close-cropped hair; harvesting
Primarily refers to a short, evenly cut hairstyle (often a crew cut or buzz cut). The harvesting sense is less common and usually clear from context.
夏は暑いので、刈り上げにしている。
I keep my hair close-cropped in summer because it's hot.
When harvesting season comes, the whole village gets busy.
Standard kanji spelling for both the haircut and harvesting senses.
Compound of 刈り (kari, 'cutting', from 刈る) and 上げ (age, 'finishing', from 上げる). Literally 'cutting up/finishing', referring to the act of cutting hair or crops to completion.