Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Gnu \Gnu\, n. [Hottentot gnu, or nju: cf. F. gnou.] (Zo["o]l.)
   One of two species of large South African antelopes of the
   genus {Catoblephas}, having a mane and bushy tail, and curved
   horns in both sexes. [Written also {gnoo}.]

   Note: The common gnu or wildebeest ({Catoblephas gnu}) is
         plain brown; the brindled gnu or blue wildebeest ({C.
         gorgon}) is larger, with transverse stripes of black on
         the neck and shoulders.

Source : WordNet®

gnu
     n : large African antelope having a head with horns like an ox
         and a long tufted tail [syn: {wildebeest}]

Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

GNU
     
         /g*noo/ 1. A {recursive acronym}:
        "GNU's Not Unix!".  The {Free Software Foundation}'s project
        to provide a freely distributable replacement for {Unix}.  The
        GNU Manifesto was published in the March 1985 issue of
        Dr. Dobb's Journal but the GNU project started a year and a
        half earlier when {Richard Stallman} was trying to get funding
        to work on his freely distributable editor, {Emacs}.
     
        {Emacs} and the GNU {C} compiler, {gcc}, two tools designed
        for this project, have become very popular.  GNU software is
        available from many {GNU archive site}s.
     
        See also {Hurd}.
     
        2.  {John Gilmore}.
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1997-04-12)