(also jer·ry·man·der ) / ˈdʒerimændə(r); NAmE / verb
[ vn ] ( disapproving ) to change the size and borders of an area for voting in order to give an unfair advantage to one party in an election
► ger·ry·man·der·ing (also jer·ry·man·der·ing ) noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent.: 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 .