the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > fabrication of statement or story > a false or foolish tale > [noun] > as told by old women (2)
old woman's tale n. also old woman's fable, old woman's story = old wives' tale n. at old wife, n. 1b. Now rare.
an unlikely story; a widely held or traditional belief now thought to be incorrect or erroneous. Cf. earlier old woman's tale n. at old woman, n. 1b.