'tale-telling' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'talu,' where 'talu' meant 'story or narrative.'

'talu' transformed into the Middle English word 'tale,' and eventually became the modern English word 'tale-telling' through the addition of 'telling.'

Initially, it meant 'narrating a story,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'telling stories, often with exaggeration.'