/tayl/ , n.
1. a narrative that relates the details of some real or imaginary event, incident, or case; story: a tale about Lincoln's dog.
2. a literary composition having the form of such a narrative.
3. a falsehood; lie.
4. a rumor or piece of gossip, often malicious or untrue.
5. the full number or amount.
6. Archaic. enumeration; count.
7. Obs. talk; discourse.
[ bef. 900; ME; OE talu series, list, narrative, story; c. D taal speech, language, G Zahl number, ON tala number, speech. See TELL 1 ]