Lake of the Woods, a translation of the original French name , was so named from its wooded setting. However, it may have been a mistranslation of the Ojibwe name. "The earliest name we find the lake known by is that given by Verendrye in his journey in 1731. He says it was called Lake Minitic (Cree: ; Ojibwe: ) or Des Bois. (1) The former of these names, Minitic, seems to be Ojibwe, and to mean "Islands in a River", probably referring to the many islands found in the northern half of the lake. The other name (2) Lac des Bois, or Lake of the Woods, seems to have been a mistranslation of the Indian name (Ojibwe) by which the Lake was known." One of the names currently used in Ojibwe for this lake is meaning "Lake with Uneven Sand" referring to the lake's sand dunes.