Eggcorn Forum

To ward something off means to guard against it, put up a defence, or to deflect or counteract its power. Wort is a venerable old Gmc word for “plant”. Perhaps the popularity of remedies like St. John’s Wort has conferred on wort a meaning of ward, or charm.

Graveyard tour
In those graves just regular Kitzingen citizens are buried. They just ornamented it with all those skulls and bats to wort off evil spirits. So the bodies could rest in peace.
(http://www.bav-dso.eu.dodea.edu/PodKIS2.htm)

Religious doctrine forum
the miraculous medal of Mary and its ability to heal and wort off evil.
(http://www.christianforums.com/t5470025-4/#post35391297)

Some instances of “war off” are probably simple typos. But not all, as the third example below, “to warred off”, may indicate.

Apparently the owners of a mexican petrol station shaved their dog [like a lion] to war off nightime prowlers.
(http://www.trolleyblog.com/2009/04/22/k … f-animals/)

Cherokee warrior history
A personal charm was carried to war off the enemy gani [arrow].
(http://www.texascherokees.org/warrior.html)

Wound care
the yellow substance is a natural effect of being injured. It is the body trying to warred off any infection and the healing process…
(http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index … 944AAkfbMR)

There are a number of instances of “wording” off evil. Though suggestive of incantation, it’s probably a pure misspelling.

Shopwiki
Every Family, Every Person, Every Business across the Planet believes in These Evil Eye Protection Charms. People Use them to word off Evil Eye Energies and Forces .
(http://www.shopwiki.com/EVIL+EYE+PROTEC … LASS+CHARM)

Finally, this puzzler: wart off. Maybe it has absorbed some of the meaning of “thwart”?

Banks saved by Government Bailout
Henry Paulson, the Secretary of the US Treasury, received a letter from Arnold Schwarzenegger, the California Governor, that his state may have to have as high as a $7 billion government loan in order to wart off bankruptcy.
(http://www.mns.co.uk/0121310.html)

Sinusitis relief
I warmed the towels in the microwave when it cooled off, and continued this treatment for about six warm-ups. I have used medications over the counter and from the doctors in the past, and so has my son-in-law, but this method has warted off sinusitis.
(http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index … 931AAr0Qy6)