(n.) An extravagant or absurd report or story; a fabricated sensational report or statement; esp. one set afloat in the newspapers to hoax the public.

Cornish hen artifice bouncer broiler bruit buzz caille caneton capon chapon chicken common talk concoction cry dindon dodge duck duckling extravaganza fable fabrication faisan falsehood falsity fib fiction figment flying rumor forgery fowl fryer goose grapevine grouse guinea hen hearsay hoax humbug idea afloat invention latrine rumor lie misrepresentation myth news stirring oie on-dit partridge pheasant pigeon pigeonneau poulet prevarication quail report roaster romance roorback rumble rumor scuttlebutt sell spoof squab stewing chicken tale talk town talk trick turkey unconfirmed report untruth volaille whisper wild duck