The term "Patriots' Day year" functions as a noun phrase. In this construction, the head noun is "year," which is the central element of the phrase. The proper noun "Patriots' Day" acts as a noun adjunct, which is a noun that modifies another noun, functioning similarly to an adjective. Its purpose is to specify or qualify which "year" is being referenced.
Grammatically, a noun adjunct provides context or classification for the head noun it precedes. Unlike a possessive form (e.g., "Patriots' Day's date"), this structure creates a compound concept. The phrase isolates a specific temporal attributethe yearand links it directly to the event of Patriots' Day. The semantic function of the phrase is to serve as a specific identifier, used to query or label a calendar year in which a particular instance of the holiday occurred or is notable.
In practical application, this construction is primarily used for categorization, data labeling, and search queries. For instance, in a database or a content management system, it would be used to tag information specific to the holiday within a certain year, such as "Patriots' Day year: 2013" to reference the Boston Marathon bombing. The main point of the phrase is therefore not the holiday itself, but the specific year as defined by its connection to that holiday.
