white-tailed gnu

noun

: a very dark gnu (Connochaetes gnou) having a partially white tail and being formerly abundant in southern Africa but now restricted to game preserves

called also black wildebeest

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of white-tailed gnu was in 1858

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near white-tailed gnu

Cite this Entry

“White-tailed gnu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white-tailed%20gnu. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!