Kopiah is recorded as being used by Majapahit elite troops (Bhayangkara).[4] Kupiah is recorded in Pigafetta's Italian-Malay vocabulary of 1521.[5] One Brunei newspaper account erroneously states that the songkok became a norm in Malay Archipelago in the 13th century with the coming of Islam in the region.[3] The earliest written mention of the word songkok is in Syair Siti Zubaidah (1840).[6] While traditional triangular Malay headress of Tengkolok or destar is associated with traditional Malay nobles and royalties, songkok on the other hand has become part of traditional Malay men's costume associated with Islam, traditionally worn by local ulamas.