An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. A short tale to teach a moral lesson, often with animals or inanimate objects as characters.
   

2. A story not founded on fact.
   

3. A story about supernatural or extraordinary persons or incidents; legend (Dictionary.com).

Etymology (EN): M.E. able, fabel, fabul, from O.Fr. fable “story, fable, tale; drama, play, fiction; lie, falsehood,” from L. fabula “story, story with a lesson, tale, narrative, account; the common talk, news,” literally “that which is told,” from fari “speak, tell,” from PIE root *bha- “speak.”

Etymology (PE): Afsâné, from Proto-Ir. *abi-sanhana-, from *sanh- “to declare, explain;” cf. O.Pers. θaⁿh- “to declare, say;”
Av. səngh- “to declare;” → speech.