"Cock & Bull Story ~

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.

The French equivalents are ~
Faire un coq =E0 l'=E2ne and un conie de ma m=E8re l'oie
[a mother goose tale]."

~ E. Cobham Brewer,
From "Dictionary of Phrase and Fable"
1898.

~ * ~
Blog, I'll warrant ye, or dog? Who knows. Pass the grog!
But if ye see me lost pup, please bring that scurvy dog home!
I got Leon a brand-new bone, with a chest full a' booty.
_________________
http://journals.aol.com/virginiaz/DreamingofLeonardo