gerrymander
verb
[ ˈdʒɛrɪˌmandə ]
• manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favour one party or class.
gerrymander
noun
• an instance of gerrymandering.
Origin:
early 19th century: from the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts + salamander, from the supposed similarity between a salamander and the shape of a new voting district on a map drawn when he was in office (1812), the creation of which was felt to favour his party; the map (with claws, wings, and fangs added) was published in the Boston Weekly Messenger, with the title The Gerry-Mander .
