Gerrymander (pronounced with the ‘g’ hard, as in ‘get’), verb. (political American).—To arrange the electoral subdivisions of a State to the profit and advantage of a particular party.
[The term, says Norton, is derived from the name of Governor Gerry, of Massachusetts, who, in 1811, signed a Bill readjusting the representative districts so as to favour the Democrats and weaken the Federalists, although the last-named party polled nearly two-thirds of the votes cast. A fancied resemblance of a map of the districts thus treated led Stuart, the painter, to add a few lines with his pencil, and say to Mr. Russell, editor of the Boston Sentinel. ‘That will do for a Salamander.’ Russell glanced at it: ‘Salamander,’ said he, ‘call it a Gerrymander!’ The epithet took at once, and became a Federalist war-cry, the caricature being published as a campaign document.]
1871. Boston Daily Advertiser, 6 Dec. Gerrimander was the name printed under a picture of a pretended monster, whose shape was modified from the distorted geography which Mr. Gerry’s friends inflicted on part of the State for the sake of economizing, majorities. [[134]]
Gerrymandering, subs. (political American). See Gerrymander.
1872. New York Sunday Mercury, 31 March. The Legislature of Ohio intends to prove itself a veritable master in the gerrymandering business.
1890. Athenæum, 22 Feb. p. 238, c. 1. Whatever faults can be found with Sir John’s administration, it has been good and successful enough to afford excuse for all the gerrymandering with which he is charged by his critics.
1891. Belfort’s Mag., Aug., p. 439. The Democrats of Michigan have carried the art of gerrymandering to such an extent that they have thoroughly disgusted their opponents.
Gerund-Grinder, subs. (common).—A schoolmaster, especially a pedant. Also Gerund-Grinding.
1759–67. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, iv., 112. Tutors, governors, gerund-grinders, and bear-leaders.
1788. Knox, Winter Evenings, 59. A pedant, a mere plodder, a petty tyrant, a gerund-grinder.