Gnu, nu, the Hottentot name of a peculiar antelope of South Africa. The Boers gave it the name of wildebeest. The head of both sexes is armed with two enormous horns which curve downward, forward, and upward in front of its face. A long flowing tail and a crest-like mane and a zebra-like body have given it the name of "horned horse." It has cloven hoofs, however, and chews the cud, like other animals of its kind; yet it is said that a herd seen at a distance flying over the plain can be distinguished with difficulty from wild zebras which inhabit the same locality. The flesh is palatable. The gnu kept company with the zebra and giraffe. Like them it is now to be found only in remote localties. There are two species. See ANTELOPE; ZEBRA.