fˈɛɹɪtlˈɛɡɪŋ mˌeɪhɐv ɚɹˈɪdʒᵻnˌeɪɾᵻd dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə tˈaɪm wɛn ˈoʊnli ðə ɹˈɛlətˌɪvli wˈɛlθi ɪn ˈɪŋɡlənd wɜːɹ ɐlˈaʊd tə kˈiːp ˈænɪməlz jˈuːzd fɔːɹ hˈʌntɪŋ, fˈoːɹsɪŋ pˈoʊtʃɚz tə hˈaɪd ðɛɹ ɪlˈɪsɪt fˈɛɹɪts ɪn ðɛɹ tɹˈaʊsɚz.
Ferret-legging may have originated during the time when only the relatively wealthy in England were allowed to keep animals used for hunting, forcing poachers to hide their illicit ferrets in their trousers.