ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə mˈɑːɹliːn blˈækbɜːn ʌvðə ɹˈɪtʃmənd fˈɛɹɪt ɹˈɛskjuː lˈiːɡ, fˈɛɹɪtlˈɛɡɪŋ ɚɹˈɪdʒᵻnˌeɪɾᵻd ɪn pˈʌblɪk hˈaʊzᵻz "wˌɛɹ pˈeɪtɹənz wʊd bˈɛt ˌɔn hˌuː kʊd kˈiːp ɐ fˈɛɹɪt ɪn hɪz pˈænts ðə lˈɔŋɡɪst."
According to Marlene Blackburn of the Richmond Ferret Rescue League, ferret-legging originated in public houses "where patrons would bet on who could keep a ferret in his pants the longest."