Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Escurial \Es*cu"ri*al\, n. [Prop. Sp. escorial, i. e., a hill or
   heap of rubbish, earth, and stones brought out of a mine, fr.
   escoria dross of metal, L. scoria, fr. Gr. ?. Cf. {Scoria}.]
   A palace and mausoleum of the kinds of Spain, being a vast
   and wonderful structure about twenty-five miles northwest of
   Madrid.

   Note: 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
         gridiron; but the resemblance is very slight. It is
         nearly square, inclosing several courts, and has a
         projecting mass which stands for the handle.