- escurial
- Escorial Es*co"ri*al, prop. 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 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.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
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 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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
