Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

control-C
     
         (Or ETX, End of Text) The {ASCII} character with
        code 3.
     
        Control-C is the interrupt character used on many {operating
        system}s, including {Unix} and {MS-DOS} to abort a running
        program.
     
        Among {BSD} {Unix} hackers, the canonical humorous response
        to "Give me a break!" is "Control C".
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1995-03-16)