noun
convex roof tile
A traditional Japanese roof tile with a convex shape, often used in pairs with concave 丸瓦 (marugawara). The term is technical but commonly understood in architectural contexts.
See also: 丸瓦
このお寺の屋根には牡瓦と丸瓦が交互に使われている。
On the roof of this temple, convex tiles and concave tiles are used alternately.
丸瓦 is the concave counterpart to 牡瓦; together they form a traditional tiled roof.
Compound of 牡 (o, 'male') + 瓦 (kawara, 'tile'), referring to the convex shape traditionally associated with the male element in yin-yang pairing with the concave 丸瓦.