| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Cock and Bull Story. | | |
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A corruption of a concocted and bully story. The catch-pennies hawked about the streets are still called cocks—i.e. concocted things. Bully is the Danish bullen (exaggerated), our bull-rush (an exaggerated rush), bull-frog, etc. | 1 |
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Another etymology may be suggested
The idol Nergal was the most common idol of the ancient Phœnicians, Indians, and Persians, and Nergal means a dunghill cock. The Egyptian bull is equally notorious under the name of Osi’ris. A cock-and-bull story may therefore mean a myth, in reference to the mythological fables of Nergal and Osiris. | 2 |
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The French equivalents are faire un coq à l’âne and un conie de ma mère l’oie (a mother goose tale). | 3 |
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