folk tale

a tale or legend originating and traditional among a people or folk, especially one forming part of the oral tradition of the common people.

any belief or story passed on traditionally, especially one considered to be false or based on superstition.

Also called folk story.

Origin of folk tale

First recorded in 1890–95

Now there can be little doubt that the adventure with the swan-maidens is derived from a folk-tale.

The Heroic Age |H. Munro Chadwick
In other words we see that the further we track the Beowulf-story back, the more it comes to resemble the folk-tale.

Beowulf |R. W. Chambers
There is no connection, save in the personage of the toothy carlin, between the ballad and the folk-tale.

Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail |Alfred Nutt
Certainly no other folk-tale in the world can claim so distinguished an offspring.

English Fairy Tales |Anonymous

So much for the present as regards our folk-tale as a whole.

The Three Days' Tournament |Jessie L. Weston

folk tale

a tale or legend originating among a people and typically becoming part of an oral tradition