What is "cock and bull story"

Cock \Cock\ (k[o^]k), n. [AS. coc; of unknown origin, perh. in imitation of the cry of the cock. Cf. Chicken.]

1. The male of birds, particularly of gallinaceous or domestic fowls.

2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.

   Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks!
   --Shak.

3. A chief man; a leader or master. [Humorous]

   Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left us.
   --Addison.

4. The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow. [Obs.]

   He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock.
   --Shak.

5. A faucet or valve.

   Note: Jonsons says, ``The handle probably had a cock on the top; things that were contrived to turn seem anciently to have had that form, whatever was the reason.'' Skinner says, because it used to be constructed in forma crit[ae] galli, i.e., in the form of a cock's comb.

6. The style of gnomon of a dial.
   --Chambers.

7. The indicator of a balance.
   --Johnson.

8. The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of a balance in a clock or watch.
   --Knight.

9. a penis. [vulgar]

   Ball cock. See under Ball.

   Chaparral cock. See under Chaparral.

   Cock and bull story, an extravagant, boastful story; a canard.

   Cock of the plains (Zo["o]l.) See Sage cock.

   Cock of the rock (Zo["o]l.), a South American bird ( Rupicola aurantia) having a beautiful crest.

   Cock of the walk, a chief or master; the hero of the hour; one who has overcrowed, or got the better of, rivals or competitors.

   Cock of the woods. See Capercailzie.