There are 2 views on this:
Some native collectors (i.e. ethnic Malay in N. Malaysia/S. Thailand) say that it refers to an early form of the tajong, which is quite close to the coteng, with small crown, small head, proportionately big body and little floral motifs carved on its surface (i.e. a lot of blank panels on the body).
The other group uses the term to refer to big-headed late-period tajong, accented with swasa.
The first group probably attributed the term to the hilt based on age (the older form deserves the exalted title), while the other group probably based their attribution on the opulent look of the hilts and their association with royalty.
Which group is correct? I don't know.
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