Escorial
Escorial , proper noun
[Prop. Sp. escorial, that is, a hill or heap of rubbish, earth, and stones brought out of a mine, from escoria dross of metal, Latin scoria, from Greek {not transcribed}. Compare Scoria.]
A palace and mausoleum of the kings of Spain, being a vast and wonderful structure about twenty-five miles northwest of Madrid; called also escurial. It was erected in 1563-1584 and contains a monastery.
The ground plan is said to be in the form of a gridiron, the structure being designed in honor of St. Lawrence, who suffered martyrdom by being broiled on a gridiron; but the resemblance is very slight. It is nearly square, inclosing several courts, and has a projecting mass which stands for the handle.